Friday 43 Sports Friday, January 31, 2020 Flames fight past Oilers in SO

EDMONTON: Andrew Mangiapane scored ators, who got two assists from Filip Fors- twice in regulation, Sean Monahan netted the berg, had to come back from a 4-3 deficit lone shootout goal, and goaltender David with two unanswered goals in the third pe- Rittich sparkled yet again in the tiebreaking riod. Nashville had gone 4-7-1 in its previ- showdown as the visiting Flames ous 12 games. Ryan Johnansen’s beat the Oilers 4-3 Wednesday short-handed tally tied the contest three night. Rittich made 31 saves through regula- minutes in the third period. Nashville also tion and overtime and capped a perfect got goals from Jarred Tinordi (the first of shootout with an old-school pokecheck. He his NHL career), Mikael Granlund and has won all six games he’s played this season Rocco Grimaldi. Richard Panik scored that have gone to shootouts, surrendering twice and Alex Ovechkin and Tom Wilson only two goals against 21 shooters. Monahan added tallies for the Capitals. Oveckin, with scored with a five-hole shot on Oilers goalie career goal No. 693, is now one goal shy of Mike Smith, who made 25 saves over the 65 for eighth in the NHL’s all- minutes. The Rogers Centre buzzed in antic- time list. He broke a tie for ninth with Steve ipation of the Battle of , which was Yzerman (692). highlighted by a pair of fights. Monahan dropped the gloves with Ryan Nugent-Hop- Lightning 4, Kings 2 kins for his first NHL fight. Then came the ex- Steven Stamkos scored two goals, and Erik pected bout between Calgary’s Matthew Cernak delivered the go-ahead score early in Tkachuk and Edmonton’s Zack Kassian to the third period as Tampa Bay rallied from a settle the score from their last meeting. two-goal deficit to earn a victory at Los An- geles. Tyler Johnson also scored for the Light- Maple Leafs 5, Stars 3 ning while goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy made 32 William Nylander scored a goal in his fifth saves. Nikita Kucherov had two assists to ex- consecutive contest as visiting Toronto skated tend his points streak to five games. Stamkos to a victory over Dallas. Auston Matthews and also has a five-game points streak. Kings de- EDMONTON: James Neal #18 and Connor McDavid #97 of the try to cover Milan Lucic Tyson Barrie each collected a goal and an as- fenseman Drew Doughty saw his consecutive #17 of the during the second period at in Edmonton, . — AFP sist, and Zach Hyman and Andreas Johnsson games played streak end at 460 when he was also tallied for the Maple Leafs, who set a a scratch because of an undisclosed injury. It franchise record by scoring at least four goals was the longest games-played streak in Los for the Ducks, who won for the third time in rallied for a victory at San Jose. Tyler Myers, in eight straight road games. Alexander Angeles history and the fifth longest active their past four games. Lawson Crouse and Vin- Jake Virtanen and Brandon Sutter also scored Radulov scored two goals, Denis Gurianov streak in the NHL. nie Hinostroza each had a goal and an assist for for the Pacific Division-leading Canucks, who also tallied, and Ben Bishop turned aside 29 Arizona, which lost its third straight game while opened a five-game trip with their fourth con- shots for the Stars. Ducks 4, Coyotes 2 also taking its fifth consecutive road defeat. secutive victory and their 13th in the past 16 Adam Henrique scored two first-period Nick Schmaltz assisted on both tallies. games. Jacob Markstrom made 38 saves. Predators 5, Capitals 4 goals, and John Gibson finished with 25 saves Tomas Hertl and Brent Burns scored for the Yannick Weber scored his first goal of to lead Anaheim over visiting Arizona. Hampus Canucks 5, Sharks 2 Sharks, who lost for the first time in their past the season with 4:37 to go, giving Nashville Lindholm and Carter Rowney also scored Rookie Quinn Hughes and Tanner Pearson five home games. Martin Jones stopped 20 of a win at Washington. The struggling Pred- goals, and Derek Grant added a pair of assists each had a goal and an assist as Vancouver 24 shots. — Reuters

Scandal-hit Astros hire veteran N Zealand injured pace trio ruled Dusty Baker as manager out of India ODIs LOS ANGELES: The Houston Astros, seeking a He has guided four clubs to the post-season. steadying force after firing manager A.J. Hinch in Baker will be managing an American League team WELLINGTON: Struggling New Zealand New Zealand since they beat India in the the wake of the sign-stealing scandal that rocked for the first time, and said he’s looking forward to will have their bowling stocks further World Cup semi-finals last year then lost baseball, Wednesday hired Dusty Baker as their having another chance to claim the World Series tested after their three leading seamers to England in the final, and coach Gary new manager. title that has eluded him. were ruled out from the squad named yes- Stead said they were under no illusions Baker is a three-time National League Man- “I’m extremely thankful for this opportunity,” terday for the one-day series against India. about the task ahead. ager of the Year and at 70 becomes the oldest Baker said. “This is a great ballclub with outstand- New Zealand’s fortunes have plum- “We’ve seen from the series manager in the major leagues. Hinch was sacked ing players that know how to win. I applaud Jim meted since making the World Cup final (India) are clearly as strong as ever,” he on January 13, just an hour after he and Astros ex- Crane for the leadership he has shown in recent last year, losing three Tests against Aus- said. “ has an important job ecutive Jeff Luhnow were suspended for the 2020 weeks and look forward to working with him and tralia and three against India. leading our new look pace attack, which season by Major League Baseball for their failure the players to bring a championship to the City of to prevent an illegal sign-stealing scheme during Houston.” Pace bowlers (broken hand), has a huge opportunity against some of the Houston’s 2017 World Series-winning campaign. But he takes over an Astros team that will be in (calf strain) and Matt very best batsmen in the world. “Throughout his successful career, Dusty has the spotlight for all the wrong reasons after MLB Henry (broken thumb), who were all injured “While the bowling line-up has a fresh embodied the qualities that we were looking for commissioner Rob Manfred said an investigation in Australia, have not recovered in time for look, the is very settled and we’ll in a manager,” Astros owner Jim Crane said in a found that the club had violated rules against use the three ODIs against India which start likely have the same top eight batsmen statement. “He’s a winner, and more importantly, a of electronic and mechanical devices to decipher next week after the final two Twenty20 fix- from the World Cup finals.” strong leader who has earned the respect of not opposing team’s signs — most often between tures. Kyle Jamieson has been called into only his players but of virtually everyone that he pitchers and catchers — in order to gain a tactical the squad for the first time while Scott New Zealand squad: has touched in baseball. advantage. The investigation concluded that the Kuggeleijn and Hamish Bennett are re- (capt), Hamish Ben- “We’re extremely excited to name Dusty as the sign-stealing in 2017 was “player driven” but said called after last playing ODIs in Ireland in nett, , , new leader of our ballclub.” Baker’s managerial re- that Hinch knew of it and that there “simply is no 2017. Tom Latham, who broke a finger on , Kyle Jamieson, Scott sume includes eight playoff appearances and a justification for Hinch’s failure to act.” Luhnow, his right hand in the third Test against Aus- Kuggeleijn, Tom Latham, Jimmy Neesham, National League pennant as manager of the Gi- who was also sacked by the Astros shortly after tralia, has been cleared to resume playing. Henry Nicholls, , , ants in 2002 — when San Francisco fell one win he was suspended by MLB, said he wasn’t aware The series will be the first ODIs for Tim Southee, . —AFP shy of a World Series title. of the scheme. — AFP